Alongside the D7000 today Nikon has announced the Speedlight SB-700,
a new shoe-mount flash unit that incorporates a revised control layout, 24-120mm zoom range, recycle time of 2.5 seconds at full power, the ability to act as a master flash for up to two groups of wireless remote Speedlights, a thermal protection feature that slows recycling when the flash head gets hot plus other
refinements relative to the SB-600 it replaces.

With an FX camera, the flash head's zoom range is 24mm-120mm without the use of the wide angle panel. With the wide
angle panel flipped down, coverage is sufficient for a 14mm lens (or a 12mm or 17mm lens by changing the light distribution pattern).

Three user-selectable light distribution patterns:

Center-weighted Provides the highest guide number but noticeable fall-off towards the edges

Standard Intended for general photography

Even Gives the most even
light coverage from centre to edge and is optimal for group photos and
similar situations where minimal fall-off is important

A guide number of 92/28 (ISO 100, ft./m) at the FX format 35mm zoom head position and with Standard selected for the illumination pattern. This is slightly less bright than the 98/32 guide number of the SB-600 for the same focal length coverage, though the real world output differences are likely to be unnoticeable.

A power range of full to 1/128. Nikon's flash duration specifications are shown in the table at right.

Master flash control of up to two groups of remote wireless Nikon Speedlights. Remote flash output control options include TTL flash exposure compensation, similar to the SB-900, or a new Quick Wireless mode that utilizes A:B ratios instead. The SB-700 can also serve as a remote flash.

Full power recycle time of 2.5 seconds. The SB-700 appears to have a recycle speed control mechanism that limits full power recycle time to 2.5 seconds with several kinds of AA batteries, including Alkaline, traditional NiMH and "eneloop"-type NiMH. Full power recycle time with AA Lithium is 3.5 seconds.

The SB-700 is powered by four AAs. It lacks a connector for an external battery pack.

Thermal protection. When the head's temperature rises above a certain level, recycle time is slowed, progressively, to a rate of three seconds or longer at full power. How much the recycling time is throttled back is dependent on how high the flash head's temperature has risen. A thermometer graphic on the flash's LCD shows an approximation of the current heat level.

A new control layout and selection wheel for quicker access to
all flash settings, including the enabling and configuring of remote flashes.

Automatic recognition of the included clip-on colour correction filters. The incandescent (shown at right) and fluorescent-balancing filters are made of hard plastic and clip directly to the flash head.

SJ-4 Color Filter Set, an accessory kit of coloured gels (warming, red, yellow and blue), will be available for the SB-700.

Firmware upgradeable. The SB-700's firmware can be updated while attached to a compatible Nikon digital SLR. A press release suggests that several Nikon digital SLRs will themselves require a firmware update for full compatibility with the new flash, though we've not yet confirmed this to be the case.

No PC sync socket. This remains a feature of the SB-900 only in Nikon's Speedlight lineup.

Price and ship date

The Speedlight SB-700
is to ship in mid-November 2010 at a manufacturer's suggested list price of
US$329.95 in the U.S. Items included with the flash are a Speedlight stand, bounce adapter, incandescent/fluorescent colour filter kit, accessory colour filter holder, diffuser dome and soft case.